• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Monday, September 8, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

Over 200 Malicious Apps Found On Google Play Store, Downloaded 8m Times – Report

by Royal Ibeh
11 months ago
in Business
Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

A recent investigation by Zscaler’s ThreatLabz research team has uncovered over 200 malicious apps on the Google Play Store, collectively downloaded nearly eight million times.

Advertisement

These apps, which have since been removed by Google, posed significant risks to users worldwide.
Nigeria ranked among the top 10 countries targeted by these mobile malware attacks, alongside India, the US, Canada, South Africa, The Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, and the Philippines.

The report highlights the growing vulnerability of mobile devices as they now serve as the primary tool for online activity, with 96.5 per cent of global internet users accessing the web through their phones.

The Zscaler study, which analysed 20 million blocked malicious transactions, revealed a 29 per cent increase in banking malware over the past year, while incidents of mobile spyware surged by an alarming 111 per cent. The report attributes this spike to the profitability of cyberattacks, with criminals often bypassing multi-factor authentication (MFA) using phishing techniques, such as fake login pages for financial institutions and social media platforms.

The report also highlighted that QR codes have become a popular tool for cybercriminals. Anatsa, a notorious Android banking malware, was found to have used QR codes to compromise banking apps from over 650 financial institutions worldwide. Other attack methods included distributing Android remote access trojans via fake websites for platforms like Skype, Zoom, and Google Meet, leading to unsuspecting users downloading harmful APK files.

ADVERTISEMENT

Among the malicious apps identified, Joker malware was the most prevalent, accounting for 38 per cent of the total. Joker conducts Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) fraud, silently subscribing users to premium services without their consent. Other threats included adware, making up 35 per cent of the observed malware, and “Facestealers,” which exfiltrate Facebook credentials, comprising 14 per cent.

RELATED

FirstBank Facilitates 52 Women into WimBiz Associate Membership

First Bank Supports Gold, Minerals Value Chain, Sponsors Exhibition

2 hours ago
FG Ready To Support Marketers For CNG Pumps Installations – Lopkobiri

Lokpobiri Woos EPC Investors With Reduced Royalties, Enhanced Cost Recovery

2 hours ago

The report also emphasised that cybercriminals frequently disguise malware as legitimate apps, including PDF readers, QR code scanners, file managers, and translators. These decoy apps serve as loaders, delivering second-stage malware like Anatsa (TeaBot), further compromising users’ devices.

“Trojans continue to dominate the Android malware landscape, responsible for 43 per cent of all malicious payloads,” the report noted. Banking malware in particular heavily relies on trojans, with Zscaler blocking 3.6 million threats linked to this type of attack.

ADVERTISEMENT

Despite a noticeable decline in Android malware activity by May 2024, with the number of blocked transactions dropping to one-third of June 2023 levels, Zscaler still recorded an average of 1.7 million Android malware blocks per month over the past year.


Join Our WhatsApp Channel



Tags: Google
SendShare10170Tweet6356Share
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Nigeria Exits Aviation Blacklist As Rating Hits 75.5%

Next Post

Heirs Energies Highlights Mechanism For Energy Transition Opportunities

Royal Ibeh

Royal Ibeh

You May Like

FirstBank Facilitates 52 Women into WimBiz Associate Membership
Business

First Bank Supports Gold, Minerals Value Chain, Sponsors Exhibition

2025/09/08
FG Ready To Support Marketers For CNG Pumps Installations – Lopkobiri
Business

Lokpobiri Woos EPC Investors With Reduced Royalties, Enhanced Cost Recovery

2025/09/08
Customs Approve $300 As Threshold For Duty-free Imports
News

Customs Approve $300 As Threshold For Duty-free Imports

2025/09/08
Baliqees Wins Prestigious West Africa Women Agripreneur Award
Business

Baliqees Wins Prestigious West Africa Women Agripreneur Award

2025/09/07
Missing Crude: CSOs Dismiss Whistleblower’s Claims, Allege Extortion Attempts
Business

India Expands Crude Purchase From Nigeria

2025/09/07
NGX Group Appoints Popoola As GMD/CEO
Business

NGX Lifts Trading Suspension On Universal Insurance Shares

2025/09/07
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

Pilgrimage, Politics And Public Service

Security: Mbah Moves To Strengthen Forest Guard, Raises Minimum Pay To N80,000

Nigerians Dedicated To Grassroots Initiatives, Says TFT Boss

Emir Of Daura Turbans Gov Radda’s Wife As Jagaban Matan Hausa

Chatham House And The Trust We Must Rebuild

N70,000 Minimum Wage Insufficient – NLC

Fears Of Fuel Shortages Rise As Oil Workers Begin Strike Today

First Bank Supports Gold, Minerals Value Chain, Sponsors Exhibition

Lokpobiri Woos EPC Investors With Reduced Royalties, Enhanced Cost Recovery

Customs Approve $300 As Threshold For Duty-free Imports

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.